Redfin Corporation - RDFN STOCK NEWS

The housing market is showing signs of softening as competition among homebuyers declines, according to a report from Redfin (NASDAQ: RDFN). In the four weeks ending May 22, 19.1% of home sellers reduced their prices—the highest since October 2019. Mortgage-purchase applications are comparable to levels last seen in June 2020, with a significant annual decline in homebuyer demand. Although median home prices reached a record $400,000, pending sales dropped 5.4%, and new listings decreased slightly. These trends suggest a shift in buyer dynamics as rising mortgage rates impact affordability.

Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ: RDFN) announced that CFO Chris Nielsen will present at the Jefferies Virtual Internet Summit on May 31, 2022, at 10:50 a.m. ET. A live webcast and replay will be available on their investor relations website. Redfin, a technology-driven real estate firm, offers services such as brokerage, instant home-buying, rentals, lending, and renovations, saving customers over $1 billion in commissions since 2006. Operating in over 100 markets in the U.S. and Canada, Redfin employs more than 6,000 people.

Home prices are surging in many once-affordable U.S. metros, particularly in Miami and Phoenix, as buyers migrate due to rising mortgage rates. Popular destinations like Virginia Beach ($315,000) and San Antonio ($330,000) remain affordable, attracting homebuyers relocating from expensive areas. In April 2022, 32% of buyers searched for homes in different metros. Despite this, locals in cities like Tampa face challenges with affordability, needing significant income increases to compete. Overall, migration is shifting toward regions where housing remains within reach amid rising prices.

The housing market's inventory crunch eased in April, with homes for sale down just 9% year-over-year, the smallest decline since March 2020. Despite record-low inventory, home sales fell by 8%, leading to a slight slowdown in home price growth, which increased by 16% to $424,000. The average sale-to-list ratio hit a record 103.2%. In April, 59% of homes sold above list price, the highest level since 2013. While prices increased across major metros, sales declined in most areas, particularly in West Palm Beach, where they fell by nearly 30%.

Redfin's recent analysis shows that homebuyers could save approximately $15,582 over five years by opting for an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) instead of a 30-year fixed mortgage, equating to around $260 monthly. This represents the largest savings since 2015. The typical monthly payment for a 5/1 ARM stands at $2,164, which is 11% lower than that of a fixed-rate mortgage at $2,423. As mortgage rates rise, ARMs are gaining popularity, comprising 10.8% of mortgage applications—an increase from 3.1% at the start of the year.

Redfin reported a shift in the housing market as more sellers enter while demand is declining due to rising mortgage rates. The report covering the four weeks ending May 15 indicates a 16% year-over-year increase in median home sale prices to $398,500 and a record asking price of newly listed homes at $416,425. However, mortgage applications hit their lowest since May 2020, with a notable decline in homebuyer activity. Even with these challenges, homes are selling rapidly, averaging 15 days on the market, reflecting a mixed but evolving real estate landscape.

The latest report from Redfin reveals that 60.7% of home offers by its agents faced bidding wars in April 2022, a decline from 63.4% in March and 67.4% a year prior. This is attributed to rising mortgage rates, currently at 5.3%, which have more buyers withdrawing from the market. The average monthly mortgage payment surged 44% year-over-year to $2,427. Riverside, CA saw the largest competition drop, down 22.9 points from last year. Townhouses remain the most competitive property type with a 69.5% bidding war rate, while homes are taking longer to sell as market conditions cool.

In April, the median monthly asking rent in the U.S. surged 15% year-over-year to a record $1,962, marking a slowdown from March's 17% increase. Key metropolitan areas like Austin, Portland, and South Florida experienced even higher hikes, with Austin seeing a staggering 46% rise, the largest recorded since 2019. While the overall rental growth indicates potential effects of the Federal Reserve's interest rate strategy, rents still outpace inflation, putting pressure on tenants. Only three of the 50 largest metros reported declines in rents, highlighting ongoing rental market challenges.

Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ: RDFN) announced that CFO Chris Nielsen will present at the 17th Annual Needham Technology & Media Conference on May 18, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET. Investors can access the live webcast and replay through Redfin's investor relations site.

Redfin is a technology-driven real estate company providing brokerage, iBuying, rentals, lending, and renovations services. They have saved customers over $1 billion in commissions since 2006 and operate in over 100 U.S. and Canadian markets, employing over 6,000 staff.